Page 39 of Game Changer

At the end of the walkway, I’m greeted by a young woman in a smart suit holding a card with my name on it.

“Hi, I’m Zara,” I say to her holding out my hand.

She takes it in a firm grip. “Nice to meet you Zara. I’m Sloane. I’ll be accompanying you to your car today. Do you have everything you need before we leave?”

I nod to her. “Yes, I’m good.”

“Okay then I have a car waiting for you.”

I follow Sloane to an elevator, and we head down. We exit the airport and stop beside a waiting black BMW 7 Series. The mirror polishing detail on the paintwork reeks luxury.

“Zara, this is Harry. He’ll be your driver to your suite and then on to your destination.” She smiles and wishes me well and Harry opens the door for me.

“Miss Archer,” he says nodding his head to me as I get into the back of the luxury car. Its cream leather interior adds that finishing touch to the beautiful vehicle.

He closes the door and gets back into his seat. Then we are off into a tunnel. In a short drive we are at another facility in the airport that leads to a corridor of suites. I’m shown to a private suite with a seating area and its own private shower room. I’m served a beautiful breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. It’s all topped off by a glass of Bollinger champagne.

By the time I’m finished eating and my case has been delivered to me from the terminal, I’m almost walking on air. I can see why real VIP’s spend exorbitant amounts of money on this type of service. It must be nice to relax and know that you won’t be harassed by the press or overzealous fans.

Harry drops me at the Shard, and even takes my case right to the check-in desk of the hotel. I collect my key card and take a seat in the sky lounge on the 34thfloor to collect my thoughts. Overlooking the Thames and St Paul’s Cathedral, the view from up here is stunning on a clear sunny day. I have it on good authority that the room we have has even more spectacular views. I send a text off to Buckie.

Hey. I’m at the hotel. Are you here? X

His reply is quick and short.

Yeah, I’m in the room. Come on up. X

I’ve had such a wonderful journey here thanks to him, so I decide I’ll surprise him with a little nudity. I head into a restroom in the lobby area. Inside one of the cubicles I strip out of my clothes, pulling my red trench style raincoat out of my case. I brought it with me in case it rains at all while I’m here. I never go anywhere in the UK without some sort of rain cover. The weather is too changeable. Packing all my clothes into the case and putting my red heels back on I leave the cubicle. Giving myself a quick once over in the mirror, I make my way to our room.

The 39thfloor is only a short elevator ride from the lobby, and I find our suite to the left as I exit the elevator. The door to the suite is huge and as I walk in, I’m stunned at the view in front of me. It’s London on a panoramic scale. I stand my case in the entrance hallway and drop my messenger bag beside it.

“Buckie,” I call out my voice echoing around the entrance.

“In the lounge babe,” he calls back, and I smile on hearing his voice.

I open the belt on my coat and make my way down the short hallway, my heels click clacking on the marble tiled floor. Walking into the lounge area I open my coat and present my fully naked self to him.

I don’t know whether the gasp of shock comes from me or the woman sitting on the sofa next to Buckie. But I do know that my face has gone the same crimson colour of my coat. I snap it shut around me.

“Oh my God I’m sorry. I thought you were alone Buckie.”

“Well, that was one hell of an entrance,” the woman says standing and holding her hand out to me. “Shelly, and you must be Zara.”

I shake her hand, still holding onto my coat with my other. I tip my head and shrug. “In all my glory it appears.”

“Sweetheart, please don’t be embarrassed, we’ve all been there. I lived in an apartment here in London for two years. It took until I was about to move out before I realised the position of my mirror in my bedroom gave the elderly guy across from me a prime view of my bed. Oh, the things that poor man must have seen.”

“I’m sorry,” I say to both her and Buckie. “And seriously, wow.” I motion round the suite.

To the right of the entrance hall is a dining area with a table set for ten people. The opulent crystal chandelier is a stunning focal point. But the floor to ceiling windows in the living area are breathtaking. The view is so vast you can actually see the countryside that surrounds London.

“It’s nice, eh?”

“Nice? This suite must have cost an absolute fortune for three nights. I’m impressed but you know I would have been equally impressed by a budget hotel.”

“You sound just like him.” Shelly gathers up her paperwork and bag. “I’m going to head off and leave you two to… well, whatever you had in mind Zara.” She smiles at me and gives me a sly wink. “Now remember you have three BBC interviews today so please don’t be late,” she says pointing her manicured finger at Buckie.

“I won’t be late, I promise. I’ll meet you there. Now off with you. I need to take care of my woman.”

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